Opportunity awaits as C-N plays host to ranked LMU
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the first time in nearly a month, Carson-Newman (10-4, 6-2 SAC) returns to Holt Fieldhouse for a rivalry matchup with No. 21 Lincoln Memorial (12-1, 7-1 SAC) on Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m.
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19 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 76 |
VIDEO: Carson-Newman vs Lincoln Memorial March 2025 SAC Tournament Highlights
VIDEO: Carson-Newman vs Lincoln Memorial March 2025 SAC Tournament Full Broadcast Replay
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – For the first time in nearly a month, Carson-Newman (10-4, 6-2 SAC) returns to Holt Fieldhouse for a rivalry matchup with No. 21 Lincoln Memorial (12-1, 7-1 SAC) on Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m.
Carson-Newman's six-game winning streak ended in a unique way on Saturday. The program lost just its third game under head coach Mike Mincey when scoring 90 points or more, losing 103-92 to a Lenoir-Rhyne team that reset their program's record for three-point field goals in a game with 17 on just 25 attempts.
The Lady Eagles are back at home for the first time in nearly a month. This season, C-N is 4-0 this year and has won its past two home games by 25 points or more. Dating back to last season, Carson-Newman has won 11 straight home games, tied for the sixth-longest active home winning streak in DII. Last season, C-N played host to LMU with a 20-game home winning streak and the Railsplitters ended that streak by leaving Holt Fieldhouse with a 71-67 win. They swept the regular season meetings, but C-N won the most meaningful won, winning by 15 in the SAC quarterfinals. Overall, the Lady Eagles lead the all-time series 59-39.
C-N matches up with a ranked Lincoln Memorial team for the first time since January 25, 2017. The sixth-rated Railsplitters hosted the Lady Eagles that day and stayed unbeaten with a 72-65 win. Earlier this season, C-N defeated a ranked team for the 10th straight season by knocking off #14 North Georgia at Holt Fieldhouse on November 25. Since 2008, Carson-Newman is 23-25 against ranked teams.
Jennifer Sullivan (Knoxville, Tenn.) continues to lead Carson-Newman in scoring this season. This past Saturday, Sullivan matched her career-high going for 29 points on a career-best 11 field goals, five of which were three-pointers. The senior guard has drilled 96 three-pointers in her C-N career on a 41% clip. At the moment, that 41% mark from long range is the third-highest three-point shooting mark for a career in program history.
Lincoln Memorial brings the second-highest winning percentage in the Southeast Region to Holt Fieldhouse on Wednesday night. The Railsplitters are 12-1 and 7-1 in the conference play. They won their first five games, before suffering its only setback of the year to Catawba 54-51. Since that loss, LMU has rattled off seven straight wins, six of which that have come in conference action.
Preseason all-conference players Kamil Collier and Alexa Smiddy have lived up to that billing again this season. Collier averages a team-best 16.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and has six straight double-doubles. Smiddy pours in 13 points a night and leads LMU with 27 three-pointers. The added boost on offense has come from Lexi Patty, who has nearly doubled her scoring output this year averaging 14 points per game on 48 percent shooting.
The Railsplitters are the best three-point shooting team in the SAC, making nine per game on 33 percent long range shooting. Along with the sharpshooting, LMU commits the fewest turnovers per game and has the best scoring defense, allowing just 56 per game.
Tip off with the Railsplitters is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Coverage on the Eagle Sports Network begins at 5:15 with the AEC Countdown to Tipoff on Mix 105.5 (WSEV-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live. A video stream is available with a subscription to FloSports at cneagles.com/FloWbb. A live camera of the broadcast crew "On Press Row" will also be available on YouTube.
Team Stats
#20 Lincoln Memorial
| Game Statistics | #20 Lincoln Memorial | Carson-Newman |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (23-67) | (26-60) |
| Field Goal % | 34.3% | 43.3% |
| Rebounds | 35 | 45 |
| Assists | 10 | 17 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 18 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 16 | 17 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 15 | 12 |
| Pts in the Paint | 38 | 26 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 4 | 21 |
| Bench Pts | 7 | 12 |
